PA Lawmakers To Introduce 'Commonsense' Unemployment Improvement Bill

HARRISBURG — Two lawmakers from southeastern Pennsylvania plan to introduce legislation designed to improve the state's unemployment system.

State Sens. Maria Collett, a Democrat from Montgomery and Bucks County, and Philadelphia Democrat Tina Tartaglione announce they will soon unveil their bill that is designed to bring what they call "commonsense improvements to our outdated Unemployment Compensation (UC) laws and allow claims to be processed faster."

"Since the onset of COVID-19, my office has helped thousands of constituents navigate an overwhelmed unemployment system," Collett said in a statement. "The pandemic exposed many problems with Pennsylvania's UC system, some [of] which will require time, money and bipartisan agreement to correct and others — like abolishing the waiting week — that can be quickly resolved by simply cutting through the red tape."

Collett said she heard directly from constituents who stated that eliminating the waiting week period for claims to be begin could greatly help their families.

"Pennsylvanians contribute to the unemployment system every time they clock in for their shift — they deserve a UC system which works for them right away because bills don't disappear as quickly as work can."

Tartaglione stated that the senators' "commonsense legislation will remove the roadblocks and red-tape that keep our neighbors from accessing help in a timely manner.

"It's no secret that Pennsylvanians need help," she said in a statement. "Our Commonwealth's Unemployment System helps struggling families to put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads."

Aside from eliminating the waiting week at the start of benefits, the senators said their bill would also eliminate credit weeks from the process of verifying income, which often causes delays in benefits and confusion among employers and claimants; eliminate severance pay requirements to minimize the occurrence of claims being sent to examiners for review; streamline the Shared Work Program to help claimants access benefits in a more timely manner; and improve the stability of the UC Trust Fund by aligning the solvency definition and trigger percentage with federal policy.

Collett and Tartaglione noted that there is currently companion legislation to the Senate proposal in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. That measure, H.B. 549, is sponsored by Montgomery County Democratic Rep. Liz Hanbidge and Luzerne County Democrat Gerald J. Mullery.